But this isn’t just about Apple. The advent of the iPhone era has forced changes in a stagnant smartphone industry that would never have gotten to this point without a serious push. Smartphones are now slim and sleek instead of huge and bulky. Touchscreens are now commonplace, drastically improving the overall user experience across all mobile platforms. Apps are now a booming economy, and are neatly organized in on-device portals instead of being available mainly through poorly-managed websites that made finding the software one needs a daunting task.

Apple’s rise to the top has not been without its drawbacks, of course. Apple’s inexperience in an industry where companies often looked the other way, and co-founder Steve Jobs’s short temper, have resulted in a worldwide patent war with no end in sight. Every major player in the industry is now fighting multiple patent battles, and innovation often must play second fiddle as smartphone makers tiptoe around patents.

The bottom line, however, is that one thing is clear: this is Apple’s game right now, and companies can either play or get out of the way.

It’s not all bad news, though. Samsung has become one of the biggest consumer electronics companies in the world thanks to its wide range of Android smartphones. Whether or not Samsung’s phones are truly iPhone copycats is open to debate, but there’s no question that Samsung’s wares were at least inspired in part by the iPhone. After all, other designs are possible.